A statement issued by the government on Wednesday said that Home Minister Amit Shah and Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu reviewed passenger facilities, security arrangements and immigration system at major airports.
The meeting was attended by the Home Secretary, Director Intelligence Bureau (IB), Secretary Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Director General Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Chairman Airports Authority of India (AAI) and several other senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and MoCA.
“Shah directed that Automated
Shah also directed that a comprehensive framework be put in place, keeping in mind the interconnection between entry lanes, check-in counters, security screening lanes and immigration counters at airports, so that the flow of passengers is not disrupted at any touch point, the government said.
The minister said that a coordinated plan has been prepared for each touchpoint at airports to ensure smooth movement of passengers.
“Shah directed that priority be given to the 21 airports currently under development and the remaining 41 airports, on the basis of passenger movement, as per the security norms set by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), with the aim of enhancing passenger comfort while ensuring that commercial areas remain within the stipulated norms. He also directed that work at all 62 airports be completed within the next two years,” the government said.
It also said that Shah directed the Civil Aviation Ministry to set standards for the number of air bridges at all airports based on passenger and air traffic. Regarding the baggage drop facility, the government said Shah has asked the Civil Aviation Ministry to expand the facility currently available at 16 major airports to include other international airports with high passenger traffic as well.
The government said Shah had asked the Ministry of Civil Aviation and CISF to independently conduct separate third-party studies during the peak travel season to assess and reduce passenger delays at all touchpoints across major airports.
He said there should be no dilution in the educational qualifications prescribed for Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel deployed for X-ray examination. He also directed the appointment of officers and individuals who possess the required educational qualifications for X-ray examination tasks.
The Minister also ordered that Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) offices be operational in the headquarters of all states by next year and that authorized immigration checkpoints at Agartala and Noida airports be operational at the earliest.
Shah also asked the authorities to roll out a fast-track immigration program – Trusted Travelers Program (FTI-TTP). He said that a mechanism should be put in place in coordination with airlines to send a WhatsApp message to travelers when booking an international ticket asking them to register with the FTI-TTP.
